merte is currently sobbing in her room. she's sobbing because her class is so shit. she's saying that she's getting the blame for them being so shit - but I think that's slightly unlikely seeing as all the bosses admitted the class was shit before we met them.
anyway.
I had my class today. two hours of them. and, I hate to admit it - but I'm starting to like them.
I tried to get them up and moving and talking and writing on the board and stuff, and I think it works. I know for a fact they didn't really know what I was talking about, probably learned nothing and if they did they'll have forgotten about it by now, but they're quite sweet and funny. my boss andy and his girlfriend sherry came into my class for half an hour or so, and I was really worried the kids would turn all shy and say nothing - but thankfully they came in while I'd given them a reading exam and didn't really stay that long. sherry's really, really nice - she stayed and became a sort-of classroom assistant, helping the kids with chinese translations and explaining things to the ones that still haven't quite got hold of my accent.
I had them all doing a 'pick two words from the list and make a sentence game', and they were enthralled by it. my class is supposed to finish at 8:20pm - by 8:40 I'd packed all my stuff up and had to scream "ALRIGHT GUYS, I LIKE YOU ALL AND EVERYTHING BUT CAN YOU PLEASE GO AWAY! I'M GOING TO BEIJING EARLY TOMORROW MORNING AND I HAVE TO GO TO SLEEP!"
one of the girls had her hand up straight away "teacher! will you bring me back a present?". so, I said I would. I wish I hadn't, if I get one a present I'll have to get them all presents. 24 of them! it's not really the money I'm worried about, tat is so mega-cheap here - but they're all 15/16 and I don't want to be patronizing. if they were that taken in by such a shite game I should be okay though. if anyone has any ideas, let me know.
the one thing that I really cannot handle is the picture-taking. during the break, kids from the other class were hiding round the side of the door, trying to take photos of me while I wasn't looking. it's cute and everything, but very wearing - especially when you're as spotty and as un-photogenic as I am at the moment. gah.
and one of the kids asked me for my telephone number - not a chance. I lied and said I didn't have a chinese mobile. then I got asked for my QQ number, which I still haven't set up. QQ is like the chinese MSN, and teachers are actively encouraged to have one to talk to their students. that weirds me out slightly too much. I ended up giving her my email, then managed to take the piece of paper away without her realizing. I like them all, but not that much.
they all have amazing english names which they picked for themselves. there's 'ribby', 'betty', 'smile' (who's SO sullen it's hilarious), and my favourite (as well as my favourite (shhh, don't tell anyone) student), 'dizzy'.
my middle name has caused all sorts of confusion here - because of the chinese tradition of family name first, first name second they think that my first name is 'Martin'. doesn't really bother me at all, I think it's quite funny. when David Han took me to the Bank of China to get my account sorted I noticed that the name on the account book is down as 'D. Martin.' I pointed to my surname in my passport and said "eh, that's actually my family name.", and he said "really? I just thought that was random letters. like a security code or something." ha.
but anyway, last time I saw the children I asked them to write a short introduction to themselves.
at the end of dizzy's i's written "my favourite food is bread. in all of people, I am very fond of Martin, he is a bright star in my heart. I like Korea. Because Korean stars are very handsome."
could. have. weeped.
god help them all on sunday when I have them for 4 hours solid. I'm going to Beijing tomorrow and I really shouldn't because I haven't planned anything for the class, and I won't get a chance to.
but, as caela said, I need to grow a pair and, if all else fails, just play hangman.
bathing flower! like a vagina in a bathtub.
Use Windows Live Messenger for free on selected mobiles. Learn more.
No comments:
Post a Comment